ND over itch to sign Mitch

January 17, 2006|BOB WIENEKE Tribune Staff Writer

The Mitch Mustain-to-Notre Dame saga has come to an end. "I think so," Beck Campbell, Mustain's mother, responded Monday when asked if Notre Dame was out of the picture. Mustain, the nation's top-rated quarterback and the Parade Magazine Player of the Year, had been a hot topic of conversation since he announced in December that he was re-opening his recruitment after originally committing to Arkansas. The Springdale, Ark., High School standout was offered by Notre Dame in March. According to recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, Notre Dame offered three quarterbacks -- Mustain, Zach Frazer and Demetrius Jones -- with the understanding that it would accept two. Frazer committed in April and Jones announced on Aug. 13 that he had accepted ND's offer. Mustain committed to Arkansas on Aug. 15. Notre Dame has received 26 verbal commitments to a class that could grow to 28 players by the Feb. 1 national signing day. Campbell said her son was told by Notre Dame two weeks ago that, because players on its list committed elsewhere, it had a spot open in its class for Mustain. Late last week, she said, her son was again contacted by Notre Dame. "They needed an answer now, and we couldn't do that," Campbell said. "Things work out like they're supposed to." Campbell was asked if she felt that Notre Dame was setting a deadline. "I take that as a deadline, don't you?" she said. Campbell said one of the hang-ups was that her son did not want to commit to ND without taking an official visit. She said she and Mitch were going to talk later Monday about lining up visits. "We're not on a timetable," she said. "Everybody's on a timetable but us." However, Lemming was of the understanding that Notre Dame decided to move on and not accept a third quarterback. "(Charlie) Weis proved to be an honest guy," Lemming said. "Most coaches would take him, despite what they had said earlier. It's gotta hurt, but he's sticking to his word." Notre Dame is also involved with Westlake Village, Calif., quarterback Jimmy Clausen, the nation's top junior regardless of position. Clausen was one of approximately 30 juniors who visited Notre Dame unofficially last Saturday. College coaches are prohibited by the NCAA from publicly commenting on a player until he has signed a national letter-of-intent. "I think Notre Dame has a great shot at Clausen next year," Lemming said. And it may have had a shot at Mustain this year had Weis chosen to go down that road. "I know everybody's frustrated, but not as frustrated as us," said Campbell, who declined to say which other schools her son remains involved with, although Mustain is believed to be involved with Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas. "It's been an interesting thing, to say the least." -Fort Lauderdale, Fla., offensive lineman Sam Young is expected to announce Thursday between Notre Dame and USC, according to Lemming. The 6-foot-7, 292-pound Young is expected to receive in-home visits by members of both staffs this week before taking an official visit to Notre Dame this weekend. Young is ranked as the nation's No. 10 player overall by Lemming. Staff writer Bob Wieneke: bwieneke@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6428